Adare Manor repeats for Baffert, Hernández in Santa Margarita

For the second year in a row Adare Manor cruised to a front-running victory Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Dispatched at 1-9, Adare Manor broke in front under Juan Hernández and never was challenged on her way to a 4 1/4-length victory over runner-up Coffee in Bed (10-1). In last year’s Santa Margarita, Adare Manor and Hernández led from gate to wire to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

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“She was training great for this,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Santa Margarita three times. “She had a big effort last time, but she handled it well, and I thought this was a good spot. Won’t be another spot ’til we get to Del Mar for a while. We just really enjoy her, and that’s why (owner) Michael Lund Petersen is in the business to watch his horses run. He says he needs more, so we’re going to buy him some. He needs more action.”

The last repeat winner of the Santa Margarita was Hall of Famer Bayakoa in 1989 and 1990.

Adare Manor won with a final time of 1:50.86 on the fast main track after being allowed to set a moderate pace. Fractions for the race were 23.65, 48.77, 1:12.97 and 1:37.76.

“She broke really sharp out of the gate,” Hernández said. “I didn’t ask her. I just let her go. She loves to run behind the pace, but today I was the pace, so she wanted to go. I let her go. She was a little aggressive out of the gate, she relaxed, took a breath and just kept on going. Today, she just was trying to go a little earlier.”

Hennys Crazy Train (26-1), with Héctor Berrios up for trainer John Sadler, finished third, a half-length behind Coffee in Bed. Super Shine finished last of four, another 10 lengths up the track.

Adare Manor is 17: 9-5-0 with six stakes wins and $1,856,600 in earnings. In two previous starts this year, the 5-year-old Uncle Mo mare won the Apple Blossom (G1) on April 13 at Oaklawn and was second in the Beholder Mile (G2) on March 9 at Santa Anita.

Last year, in addition to the Santa Margarita, Adare Manor won the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar and the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita.

After the veterinarian scratch of Blue Dream Machine, there was no show wagering. Adare Manor paid $2.10 and $2.10. Coffee in Bed returned $2.60 to place.